Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries

In this episode we talk with Andrew Henry from the Heritage Collections curatorial team, about a recent acquisition of New Zealand children’s books. Totaling more than 500 items, the books have been donated to the library by passionate experts Diane & Gary Hebley, whose involvement in reading, creating, teaching and writing about NZ books for children spans decades. Diane as author and Gary as the...

The Encore! exhibition looks at ways connection happens through live music: being emotionally moved by a performance, connections between those on stage and those in the crowd, and the feeling of being connected to others in a music community. Some featured music venues in the exhibition include the Auckland Town Hall, Powerstation, Galaxy, Temple Bar, Crystal Palace and more. Join us for a conver...

Alison is joined in the studio by the author K.J. Holdom to discuss her recently published historical novel The End and the Beginning This book can be borrowed from the Bestie collection displays or requested from the Auckland Libraries catalogue. https://bit.ly/3SfuiT2 Enjoyed this episode? Follow for future episodes. Send an email to reading@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Find out more about our Bestie...

Where did the New Zealand accent come from and why does it sound the way it does today? Surprisingly, Auckland, NZ’s largest urban centre, has been notably underrepresented in research on the origins of our accent. Past work has been largely South Island and rurally focused, however newly rediscovered historical writings suggest the NZ accent may have developed fastest in the North Island, particu...

In this episode, we talk with James Littlewood about his work on the Going West Writers Festival archive. James reflects on the experience of working with the voices that make up the 30 years of sound and photographic records housed at Auckland Libraires Heritage Collections. This track illustrates the treasure which is this archive through James' playing favourites. To read more about access to t...

Revisit Auckland in the 1990s and early 2000s, when dance music culture in Aotearoa was finding its pulse. Warehouses, nightclubs, bush parties and late-night radio built a scene that was energetic, resourceful and distinctly local. Interviewed by Emma Jean Kelly, five DJs and producers reflect on their experiences of a formative period in the evolution of dance music in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland....

In this episode, we talk with Sue Bradford about her work on the Auckland Unemployed Workers Rights Centre (AUWRC) archive. Sue reflects on the experience of sorting through long‑held boxes of papers, magazines, minute books, photographs, and posters. This work was supported by the 2025 John Stacpoole Scholarship, awarded by the Auckland Libraries Heritage Trust. https://www.alht.org.nz/blog/post/...

In this episode we navigate heritage maps with maps librarian Katrina Laan. Katrina shares with us five of her favourite maps including the first printed map of the Pacific in 1601, a 1946 tourist map, the fabulous Thomas Wing’s map of the Kaipara Harbour 1835, early city fire insurance maps 1915 and we learn 'just what is a cadastral map'? Listen in to a lively discussion to learn more about thes...

In this episode we catch up with Renée Orr to discuss the recently acquired privately-published book of prints by the Japanese woodblock artist Hiroshige (1797-1858). Renée shares the back story of the book to include reference to the front ex libris bookplate of Hilda Wiseman and the intersection of interests with the book’s creator Percy Neville Barnett. For images and to read more go to: https:...

In this episode we kōrero with Robert Eruera - Pou Whakarae Taonga Tuku Iho Māori and Maureen Ned - Poukokiri Whakatapoko Tapaenga about a project that, through headsets and augmented reality , we bring to life Heritage Collections and the stories related to the sites of signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. To read more about this material in the blog here: https://heritage...

In this Pride, Love is Love edition, Alison is joined in the studio by poet and actor Dan Goodwin, to discuss the tropes and folx of three recently published queer romance novels. All three books can be borrowed from the Bestie collection displays or requested from the Auckland Libraries catalogue. The broposal by Sonora Reyes https://bit.ly/3NMbRmJ The thrill of the chase by Kathryn Nolan https:/...

Orlando Furioso was the focus for the talk delivered by Dr Jack Ross, the first of the scholars to speak at the Don Smith Symposium. In 2024 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections gained an important collection with the gift of 183 titles collected by the late Professor Emeritus Donald Ian Brice Smith (Don). The collection of early modern books published before 1801 comprises several hundred volu...

This track features Dr Mark Houlahan. In his talk he addresses the question: ‘Why should members of the Auckland Free Public Library bother with religious and political quarrels from 17th century England? Can these handsome 300-year-old books still speak to Aotearoa in 2025?’ In 2024 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections gained an important collection with the gift of 183 titles collected by the...

In this track hear from the third speaker at the Don Smith symposium Dr Shef Rogers from the University of Otago. He spoke about “The Messy but Revealing Immediacy of Miscellanies” using Don’s set of the eleven volumes that comprise the set of miscellaneous prose and verse from Jonathan Swift and friends. In 2024 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections gained an important collection with the gift...

In this Awekura episode we talk with Pasifika Curator Pamata Toleafoa about material items which feature tapa cloth. Items include a signature greeting card to an early 1900s tapa newspaper. Pamata shares the story behind these items and the value of tapa material across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. To read more about this material: Listen to a series of talks on the 1780s Alexander Shaw compiled Tapa Boo...

In this episode of the Awekura series we talk with Renée Orr, Rare Book specialist and Curatorial Services Team Leader at Auckland Council Libraries Heritage Collections. Renee shares with us a rare 17th Century book, its history and provenance, to this recently donated gift to the Heritage Collection. It’s a bit of a tongue twister of a title! "The Memorable Works of a Son of Thunder and Consolat...

Recorded live, this concert celebrated 20 wonderful years of music brought to you through Auckland Libraries concert series. The unique programme brought together talented musician who have participated in many years of concert performance. Lawrence Wong (piano) 5min - 20min approx. Étude in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1 Chopin Nostalgia, from Distant Voices Gao Ping Canzona Serenata, from Forgotten Melo...

Join Marilyn Portman in conversation with Sue Berman as they discuss the celebrated history of musical concerts at the City Central Library. In this interview Marilyn shares the foundation story behind what became a regular concert series, its many iterations and various talents, and remanences on her favourite moments across her long career as a music librarian. For more images and to read more a...

On Thursday 26 June 2025, Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library presented The Kotuku Quintet in a special concert: From Mozart to Matariki The programme was based on a Mozart piano concerto and drew on inspiration from the celebration of Matariki in a brand new work by pianist and composer Louise Webster. Piano concerto no. 13 in C, KV 415 W.A. Mozart Allegro ; Andante ; Rondeau: Allegro Moz...

The Tāmaki Untold series celebrates the taonga, stories and creativity of Auckland. In this episode listen in to the conversation held at Nga Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Central Library on Otherhood: Conversation about being childless, childfree and child-adjacent with guest writers Lil O'Brien and Paula Morris. Facilitated by librarian reading engagement specialist Alison Fitzpatrick...

Alison is joined in the studio by author Michael Bennett, to discuss his novel Carved in Blood, the third instalment in the gripping Hana Westerman series. Carved in Blood is published by Simon & Schuster and can be borrowed from Bestie collection displays in all Auckland Council libraries or requested from the Auckland Libraries catalogue https://bit.ly/3H48jtm This interview was recorded for Auc...

Alison is joined in the studio by author Diana Wichtel, to discuss her memoir Unreel: A life in review, published by Penguin. Diana is an award-winning reviewer and bestselling author of Driving to Treblinka. Unreel is a brilliantly funny, achingly nostalgic memoir of a life spent watching and writing. Unreel can be borrowed from Bestie collection displays in all Auckland Council libraries or requ...

On Saturday 28 June in celebration of Matariki and as part of our Tāmaki Untold series, Auckland Libraries hosted a conversation between Roimata Smail, author of ‘Understanding Te Tiriti’ and Avril Bell, author of ‘Becoming Tangata Tiriti’. The two authors discussed the meaning of Te Tiriti and how we can work on better honouring this foundational document. The rich conversation and exploration of...

In this track Sue Berman talks with Tania Mace about her research into early inner city Auckland neighbourhoods. Tania talks about her history research interests, her approach to documentary heritage material, her discoveries and the opportunities for research still to come. Tania's research was undertaken with the support of the Auckland Libraries Heritage Trust - John Stacpoole Scholarship and t...

Explore space, time, and technology in science fiction through indigenous lenses with award-winning author Dr Gina Cole (Black Ice Matter; Na Viro) and writer, critic and producer, Dan Taipua. Dr. Gina Cole is an award-winning author of Fijian, Scottish and Welsh descent. Her collection Black Ice Matter won the Hubert Church Prize for Best First Book Fiction in 2017. Her science fiction fantasy no...